Sabres' Larsson is returning from injury

Buffalo, NY (WGR 550) - The Sabres will try to close their homestand with three wins in four games as Colorado is in town tonight. Johan Larsson returns to the lineup after taking a shot in the foot in the final preseason game in Oshawa. To put Larsson in the lineup, Zach Bogosian must go on IR retroactive to Oct. 4. Remi Elie comes out of the lineup.

Larsson will play on the left side with Casey Mittelstadt and Tage Thompson.

Larsson didn’t play in the first three games, but participated in all of training camp. He said there’s a whole different feel to this year’s team, “It definitely feels different, obviously we got a good start, but we’re only three games in so we gotta keep going here.”

Larsson has been back at practice since Sunday. Phil Housley said, “He’s worked his way back in and we want to get him a game.

“He can help out on the faceoffs, he can help out on our penalty kill and he’s playing with Casey and Thompson which I think brings some stability.”

Colorado has the huge line of Nate MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen. Last year, MacKinnon had 39 goals and 97 points, Rantanen had 29 goals and 84 points, and the captain had 25 goals and 62 points. Housley knows if Buffalo is going to win, those three players must be contained, “We’re going to have to be aware when that line’s out because they’re dangerous and they can make plays coming up ice at full speed and we’re going to have to communicate very well because there’s a lot of switches and their D gets involved in the play.”

MacKinnon has scored a goal in all three games.

Carter Hutton gets his fourth straight start in goal. He’s 2-1-0 with a 2.06 goals against and .943 save percentage.

At the other end, it’s Semyon Varlamov. He’s 2-0-0 with a 1.50 goals against and .948 save percentage.

Buffalo is only 3-7-0 in its last 10 games against the Avalanche. Colorado is 12-3-0 in its last 15 against the Sabres.

Thursday’s lines:

Sheary - Eichel - Reinhart

Skinner - Berglund - Okposo

Girgensons - Rodrigues - Pominville

Larsson - Mittelstadt - Thompson

Scandella - Ristolainen

McCabe - Dahlin

Beaulieu - Nelson

Join Schopp and the Bulldog at 6:00 for the pre-game live from (716) Food and Sport when they’ll be joined by Phil Housley, Johan Larsson and former Sabres second round pick J.T. Compher. The Michigan grad went to the Avalanche as part of the Ryan O’Reilly trade. He and Nikita Zadorov have played very well this season for Colorado.